My workplace does a charity every year with a local food bank. They like to give Christmas gifts to all the children of the families the bank supports. The kids write a list of all the things they want, the list gets put on sticky notes with their name and age, and then we can grab a sticky note and provide various gifts.
Two of my coworkers and myself usually pick a child and get three different gifts for the kid (that way they get most of the things on their list). My coworkers find it hilarious that I still like Pokemon and generally pick a child that has Pokemon as an interest. This year, we found two children that have Pokemon on their list and decided to get gifts for both of them.
So the question is, what sort of gift would an 8 yo boy and 10 yo girl want to receive?
Has to be sealed and new. No regifting or custom pack type thing
As a kid, my favorite Pokemon products were the figures. Had boundless fun battling with them over the years haha. Might sound odd to say considering the forum we’re on, but I’d avoid the TCG. I think it simply doesn’t interest some kids. And if these kids are on the poorer side (which I’m assuming they are), they likely wouldn’t be able to afford more cards to be able to actually form decks or make a solid collection. So yeah, I’d recommend the figurines. Maybe a plush too!
In terms of cards, anything with Hidden Fates if you can get your hands on it. If the kids are aware of the general hype around the set, you win. If they aren’t, they are still cards so you still win. I would probably also recommend to consider plushies if you don’t want to go down the card route.
First of all I think it depends on the amount of money you’d like to spend. I wouldn’t recommend cards if your budget is under $50 per kid.
In terms of trading cards poorer kids won’t care about particular cards all too much, it’s more about the amount of cards (to start a collection, have something to trade, socialize with the richer kids). It shouldn’t be all bulk though, there have to be some desirable cards guaranteed (most kids ask for GX cards, they don’t care about alternate art or fullart trainers/supporter). So I’d go with a booster box (doesn’t have to be the newest set, I don’t know the exact prices but isn’t crimson invasion or something like that really cheap?) or some sealed product on clearance (I saw someone posting 3 tins at Walmart for what, $35?!).
I would also include a small binder and/or some penny sleeves as these kids will appreciate the cards a lot more and would be sad to see them getting damaged.
For something on the more interactive side, you could maybe consider some Mega Construx? Like the 806pc Pikachu, Mew vs. Mewtwo set, or 352pc Gyarados. There are a ton of other sets and individual Pokemon available in the line too. I think LEGOs are usually popular around that age, so maybe it would be cool to build something with articulation.
You can’t go wrong with Tins. They are available at Target and Walmart. Typically about $22 dollars each in the US.
These contain a variety of modern card packs and they have a good chance on pulling a halfway decent card too. The container is a tin, so that’s a small gift in itself.
Or an Elite Trainer box. Those are $40 each. Contains everything you need to start playing the game. These typically come with 8 sealed packs, all from the same set.
As a fun bonus, you could get them a card binder so they have a way to store their new collection.
…Or a remote control car. Remote control cars are fun for everybody.